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| | rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}} <ref> ]. Retrieved 2009-12-10.</ref> | | rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}} <ref> ]. Retrieved 2009-12-10.</ref> | ||
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| '''''(She Was A) Hotel Detective''''' is a song by ] band ]. It was released as an EP two years after the release of '']'', the album on which it originally appeared. The "Hotel Detective" title has become a somewhat recurring theme for the band. | '''''(She Was A) Hotel Detective''''' is a song and EP by ] band ]. It was released as an EP two years after the release of '']'', the album on which it originally appeared. The "Hotel Detective" title has become a somewhat recurring theme for the band. | ||
| As in the single release of "]", the version of the song on the ''Hotel Detective'' single is slightly different from the album version. In this case, a drum track fades in to open the song, and Linnell's saxophone is more prominent. Additionally, Peter Pearmain Thomson sings backing vocals, whereas on the album, the backing vocals are sung by ].<ref>''(She Was A) Hotel Detective'' EP liner notes, 1989.</ref> | As in the single release of "]", the version of the song on the ''Hotel Detective'' single is slightly different from the album version. In this case, a drum track fades in to open the song, and Linnell's saxophone is more prominent. Additionally, Peter Pearmain Thomson sings backing vocals, whereas on the album, the backing vocals are sung by ].<ref>''(She Was A) Hotel Detective'' EP liner notes, 1989.</ref> | ||
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| =="Hotel Detective" series == | =="Hotel Detective" series == | ||
| The song "(She Was A) Hotel Detective" first appeared on '']'', the band's debut album. It was later followed up by the very different "She Was A Hotel Detective" an ] from 1994, '']''. |
The song "(She Was A) Hotel Detective", which was written by ], first appeared on '']'', the band's debut album. It was later followed up by the very different "She Was A Hotel Detective" an ] from 1994, '']''. This sequel was written by ], "in the tradition of ']' and ']'".<ref>. Retrieved 2012-10-05.</ref> The lyrics to "She Was A Hotel Detective" include the phrase "motel directive", which is transcribed between the leadout grooves of the original ''Hotel Detective'' vinyl EP.<ref>''(She Was A) Hotel Detective'' EP vinyl disc.</ref> | ||
| A second sequel, "(She Was A) Hotel Detective In The Future", was released on the band's podcast, and subsequently on a CD compilation of songs from the podcast, '']''. The final sequel was followed by a fake "commentary track" for the song, which was actually far longer than the song itself.<ref>They Might Be Giants ], 13 March 2006. Downloadable . Retrieved 2012-10-05.</ref> | |||
| == Music video == | == Music video == | ||
Revision as of 13:24, 5 October 2012
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(She Was A) Hotel Detective is a song and EP by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. It was released as an EP two years after the release of They Might Be Giants, the album on which it originally appeared. The "Hotel Detective" title has become a somewhat recurring theme for the band.
As in the single release of "Don't Let's Start", the version of the song on the Hotel Detective single is slightly different from the album version. In this case, a drum track fades in to open the song, and Linnell's saxophone is more prominent. Additionally, Peter Pearmain Thomson sings backing vocals, whereas on the album, the backing vocals are sung by John Flansburgh.
The entire contents of the EP also appear on the compilation album Miscellaneous T. The track "Kiss Me, Son of God" went on to be re-recorded and released on the band's 1988 album, Lincoln. Neither the CD release nor the 12" release of the EP list the untitled track in their respective track listings. The track consists of a conversation recorded on Dial-A-Song's answering machine between a listener known only as "Gloria" and an unknown male.
"Hotel Detective" series
The song "(She Was A) Hotel Detective", which was written by John Flansburgh, first appeared on They Might Be Giants, the band's debut album. It was later followed up by the very different "She Was A Hotel Detective" an EP from 1994, Back to Skull. This sequel was written by John Linnell, "in the tradition of 'Peggy Sue Got Married' and 'Let's Twist Again'". The lyrics to "She Was A Hotel Detective" include the phrase "motel directive", which is transcribed between the leadout grooves of the original Hotel Detective vinyl EP.
A second sequel, "(She Was A) Hotel Detective In The Future", was released on the band's podcast, and subsequently on a CD compilation of songs from the podcast, Cast Your Pod to the Wind. The final sequel was followed by a fake "commentary track" for the song, which was actually far longer than the song itself.
Music video
The music video for "(She Was A) Hotel Detective" was directed by Adam Bernstein. Some portions of the video show cartoons of the two Johns, animated by Joey Ahlbum. The video is split between these animated segments and segments of John Flansburgh and John Linnell performing the song in a dark room in front of a large "ROCK MUSIC" sign. The video is intentionally over-indulgent, but John and John were unhappy with the final result.
Joey Ahlbum's animated versions of John Linnell and John Flansburgh from the "(She Was A) Hotel Detective" music video were used in the first episode of the 1991 sitcom Clarissa Explains It All to illustrate the fact that Clarissa liked Linnell (referred to as "the John without the glasses"). The figures were also used by Bar/None on promotional postcards.
Track listing
All tracks by They Might Be Giants.
CD track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "(She Was A) Hotel Detective" (single mix) | 2:20 |
| 2. | "Kiss Me, Son of God" | 1:49 |
| 3. | "For Science" | 1:19 |
| 4. | "The Biggest One" | 1:22 |
| 5. | "Mr. Klaw" | 1:19 |
| 6. | Untitled | 2:33 |
12" track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "(She Was A) Hotel Detective" (single mix) | 2:20 |
| 2. | Untitled | 2:33 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "For Science" | 1:19 |
| 2. | "Kiss Me, Son of God" | 1:49 |
| 3. | "The Biggest One" | 1:22 |
| 4. | "Mr. Klaw" | 1:19 |
Personnel
- They Might Be Giants
- John Flansburgh – vocals, guitar
- John Linnell – vocals, bass saxophone, baritone saxiphone, synthesizers
- Additional musicians
- Lt. Anne Moore – vocals
- Peter Pearmain Thomson – backup vocals
- Production
- Al Houghton – engineer
- Bill Krauss – producer
- Mark Marek – cover art
- Rita Zaitschek – cover production
References
- (She Was A) Hotel Detective EP > Overview allmusic. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
- (She Was A) Hotel Detective EP liner notes, 1989.
- Who is speaking in the song with no name? tmbg.org. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
- tmbg.com "First Album Q&A. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
- (She Was A) Hotel Detective EP vinyl disc.
- They Might Be Giants Podcast 5A, 13 March 2006. Downloadable here. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
- IMDb page on Adam Bernstein. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
- ^ Myke Weiskopf interview with Adam Bernstein, 1995. Archived here. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
- Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns), 2003 DVD special features.
External links
- (She Was A) Hotel Detective EP at This Might Be A Wiki
- "(She Was A) Hotel Detective" (song) at This Might Be A Wiki